Chapter 2: Prologue
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Prologue
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In front of my eyes, a glowing hologram projected itself, floating above the desk I had woken up at, as I couldn't help but look around and take in my surroundings.
The space around me was white, infinite, and devoid of detail. It felt like being suspended in a gravityless limbo, where the only real thing was this strange station.
The entire scenario was so surreal it made me feel like I was inside a science fiction movie. My gaze settled in front of me, where some kind of glowing program had formed out of nowhere, floating to create letters in the air so that I could somehow read them.
[Congratulations! We at The Company are proud to have you as our new employee! In these difficult times, the demand for Waifus has reached an all-time high in the multiverse!]
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to stay calm. Once again, I let myself fall back against the chair, which, I must emphasize, felt more real than the rest of the space.
I need to calm down. I take a deep breath. I'm not the type to lose control, even in situations as bizarre as this one. But it's hard not to feel confused, considering that, from what I remembered, I should be dead.
I raise my gaze toward the hologram. "So this is it? I've been recruited as a Contractor for the Waifu Catalogue?" My voice echoed in the empty space, searching for a response.
No answer.
I huff, crossing my arms. "What happened to customer service? Is there anyone who can answer my questions, at least?"
Silence envelops me once again. There are no signs of life or interaction. The only thing that moves is the flow of text in front of me, as if some invisible AI is trying to communicate without actually listening to me.
I glance back at the desk, looking for a way to interact with this situation. Then I notice a small blinking symbol in the corner of the screen, something I missed earlier: an icon that says "Accept."
"Ah, of course. Why should I sign a contract without knowing anything, right?" I shake my head, speaking to the void.
I reach to touch the hologram, but pause just before pressing it. This is all too strange. "What happens if I don't accept?" I ask no one in particular, although honestly, I didn't expect any answer.
Still silence.
"Great," I murmur, taking another breath. "Let's do this. Not like I have much of a choice." I press the accept icon and almost immediately another message appears before my eyes.
[Create Your Build]
"Well, this is definitely something much more concrete," I say, sitting up straighter and carefully observing what's in front of me.
The first fundamental thing I needed to do was choose at least a level 5 world or higher, so I could have enough initial budget to buy talents, defenses, and essential traps for myself.
Naturally, the first ones that could easily catch my eye were the good old Marvel and DC worlds, which have a higher cap for acquiring power and many targets to capture.
But they're Marvel and DC...
So the risk was too high, considering dimensional entities were a little too unpredictable and easy to antagonize in some way for my liking, so I put them aside for the time being.
Additionally, I also needed to know the storyline, as it could easily send me into a timeline I wasn't familiar with, and I would need to acquire a talent to help with that.
The more obvious choices were the harem worlds, full of powerful waifus I could conquer and, if necessary, exchange for extra credits. After all, having a large amount of resources was never a bad thing.
DxD, To Love-Ru, Date a Live...
But I would need much more preparation to venture into these worlds, as even at the beginning, you could encounter high-level beings who could easily put me in difficult situations without a solid start.
I sat there, reflecting on my options, staring at the list of worlds in front of me—an endless list of possibilities I could explore to ensure I achieve infinite potential.
I was particularly interested in building a foundation in a shonen world, one that would provide me with a solid starting point. I wanted this introductory phase to prepare me as best as possible for future jumps into worlds where the danger level would increase dramatically.
My goal is to become strong enough not only to survive but to thrive, amassing resources, power, and credits that could guarantee me a comfortable life in the future.
To do this, I need a world that offers a lot—especially high-level waifus—and, at the same time, gives me a position where, over time, I will undoubtedly become the strongest of them all.
"In the end, there's only one choice that truly makes sense for me, and I don't need to think about it further," I muttered, as my finger decisively hovered over the world selection. "Most of all, it's too good of an opportunity to pass up—I have to make the most of it."
Bleach.
I know, it's a world you wouldn't typically choose as your first, given the OP final villain who can alter the future at will—hell, he can even revive himself after being killed.
"But I'm sure in the end, none of that will matter," I declared, waving my hand as if someone could see me. "After all, he ultimately lost because of the hybrid who could kill the Soul King."
My attention immediately turned to my top pick. The man of pure potential, the embodiment of limitless strength that seemed unstoppable, even by the end of his story.
The ultimate hybrid!
Kurosaki Ichigo.
There was just one problem: he was a Tier 9. Considering his ability to sever destiny itself, it made sense, but honestly, I still saw it as too low for him, given all the untapped potential he had within.
However, the CYOA offered me another interesting possibility: using a weaker version of a character and then purchasing a template to upgrade him.
If I chose his early version, the one just after becoming a Substitute Soul Reaper, I'd still have a solid foundation—probably somewhere between Tier 4 and Tier 6—already capable of handling low to mid-level threats, not to mention his Hollow side, White.
"But," I continued, reading the description more closely, "it says powers can be trained to return to their original strength or even surpass them—which means I could have both horns of salvation."
Even in his most basic form, as a Substitute Soul Reaper at the start of the series, he had already proven to be incredibly promising, only losing to a captain with centuries of experience under his belt.
"If Ichigo is this strong right from the beginning, imagine him with a more advanced template..." I murmured to myself, thinking about how powerful I could become.
A smile crept across my face as I considered the possibilities. With the right talent and resources, the potential would be limitless. Not to mention, there would be tools to accelerate my training process.
And as if that weren't enough, he had a dedicated mission all to himself...
Ichigo True Potential.
In this mission, I had to first master every aspect of his bloodlines, along with his Fullbring powers, and then fuse them all into a single harmonious form: his true Final Hybrid Form.
Yes, I can do this. To hell with everything.
Looking at the information on the Origin, I can take control of his body when he's at least 13 years old, giving me two years to train. More than enough time.
Alright, now onto the perks. Obviously, I'm choosing [Body Tuning], [Athletic Talent], [Martial Talent], and [Soul Talent]. These are standard abilities, considering I want to get the most out of my new body.
This way, right from the start, I should be able to awaken the powers of my bloodlines without needing any external help. This would give me a decisive advantage, allowing me to begin training and developing my abilities to their fullest potential immediately.
In the general section, I'm selecting the essentials: [Universal Calibration], since the world of Bleach primarily focuses on combat with a sprinkle of comedy along the way. Beyond a few traps meant to lure those looking for classic ecchi, this perk wasn't bad at all.
[Sexual Calibration], [Fertility Calibration I], so I can have sex without worries—because I didn't want little hybrids (demigods) running around uncontrollably.
[Normalcy], because I'm choosing a modern world, and while I don't intend to have a massive harem, I want people to accept that I might have more than one girlfriend—especially since, in theory, I'd be part of a major noble house.
And [Time-Savers], because it's just too useful not to have. Since this will be my new life, I plan to enjoy it to the fullest, and ultimately, it's practical.
For defenses, I didn't overthink it and went with the standard: [Body x2], [Stress x2], [Mind x2].
[Possession x2], so that White couldn't take over my body with ease. I'd allow him to do so in life-or-death situations, but that was the most I'd be willing to tolerate.
But honestly, that was the lesser issue since I had specifically chosen this perk to prevent Yhwach from controlling my body. Eliminating such a major disadvantage right at the start meant I wouldn't have to worry about it later.
Now, the most important part... Template stacking. To fully capitalize on the potential of my bloodlines, I would absolutely need White to defeat Yhwach.
So, I needed something.
And considering that it would seem strange for people to see me using odd elements or magic... Well, not too strange, given that I'd be a hybrid. Still, I needed to keep the destructive power theme consistent so that it would pass as an extension of my abilities.
"A substantial boost to my physical strength while also maximizing my destructive force..." I murmured.
There's only one guy who could give me all that with ease.
"Whitebeard from One Piece..." I typed his name, an enormous grin spreading across my face.
At first, I considered choosing Dracule Mihawk. His swordsmanship and impressive Haki seemed like the perfect combination to build a solid foundation. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized a fundamental truth: I was overcomplicating things, overthinking more than necessary.
The true strength of Ichigo? It was painfully obvious, something even an idiot could grasp. His raw destructive power, an overwhelming energy capable of obliterating anything in its path, leaving behind nothing but pure destruction.
That's why I chose Whitebeard. His incredible physical strength, combined with the three types of Haki I'd easily obtain, made him the most advantageous choice. And then there was the Tremor-Tremor Fruit: a devastating ability, perfect for reinforcing my body and wielding it as a living weapon. It would become my trump card, the key to taking down any enemy standing in my way.
After all, you couldn't ignore who we were talking about. This was a man who, even with a debilitating illness, fought an entire war alone. Even after being mortally wounded, he continued to be regarded as the strongest of all, his power so immense that, in theory, he was considered capable of destroying the entire world.
Most importantly, if I train my Haki, I'll be able to see the future—a game-changing ability in any battle. Whitebeard is already incredibly strong, but with this skill, I'd have a decisive edge.
Now, I can purchase another template...
Who? Gon from Hunter x Hunter? But then again, Nen with all its varied applications would make me overly reliant on it, and it would be hard to explain. Ugh. And Vergil? But once more, demonic energy… and the only truly useful thing would be his Devil Trigger transformation.
But clearly, people would notice the difference compared to spiritual energy, right? Especially if we're talking about individuals like Urahara or Aizen. Haki, I can hide. But other types of energy? Not so much.
Mahoraga? Good, sure, but ultimately it didn't give me anything I couldn't achieve on my own with my Inner Hollow. And while I wouldn't have minded having his adaptability to phenomena, it's not that useful against people who manipulate senses or even the future.
Worst-case scenario, I'll buy it later with credits. It's not that expensive, and after completing this world, I'll have plenty of credits to power myself up significantly.
The other template has to be someone incredibly powerful, at least level 7 or 8, to let me quickly grow in strength and surpass opponents like Aizen and Yhwach, who are at levels 7 and 10 respectively. My priority is to scale levels without taking an eternity, ensuring I can face extreme challenges while maintaining clear, solid progression.
Initially, I considered Kishin Asura (Soul Eater) as a choice. He's one of the Great Old Ones, with a unique affinity for madness rooted in fear. Born as Shinigami's eldest son, he was a fragment containing all of Shinigami's fears, created specifically to allow Shinigami to become the God of Absolute Order. With a power level equivalent to 10, he represented a truly excellent option for me.
However, despite his incredibly enticing abilities, I decided to discard him. To fully exploit his potential, I would need to undergo extensive training, a path that would leave me far too vulnerable at the start—something I wasn't comfortable with.
Sure, I would gain conceptual immortality and other extremely useful long-term perks, but all of that would be pointless if I ended up weaker than my opponent. Moreover, he was an optional reward in my mission; if I played my cards right, I could obtain him easily enough later.
But back to the point—I needed a solid foundation. A strength that not only allowed me to survive but also let me grow steadily and consistently. Every step I took had to lay the groundwork for building my power to face the strongest enemies without ever falling behind.
"Oh, I just thought of someone much more suitable for me!" I thought with excitement. Among the characters in popular anime, one stood out as perfect for my needs.
It wasn't necessarily someone known for being the strongest, at least not in the version I had in mind, but their characteristics were exactly what I was looking for:
Saber, or rather Artoria Pendragon from Fate/Stay Night.
My choice was mainly motivated by two factors: Mana Burst and the Dragon Reactor Core. These two elements would represent a significant boost to my power, and considering my already considerable racial advantages, they would be a formidable addition.
Mana Burst, with its ability to convert mana into explosive physical energy, would be a decisive advantage in any direct combat. Moreover, by using it at low intensity and masking it with my spiritual energy, I could conceal its true nature.
This way, anyone observing me would have a hard time distinguishing between the power of mana and my spiritual energy, granting me an element of surprise and a significant tactical advantage.
The Dragon Reactor Core, on the other hand, would provide me with a practically inexhaustible energy reserve. Its utility was almost impossible to overlook. But that wasn't all. Choosing Artoria also meant gaining all her Servant abilities, including her personal talents and the techniques she had learned in life.
Furthermore, considering that the world of Burn the Witch is part of the same universe as Bleach, I couldn't ignore the enormous opportunities this context would offer me—taming a dragon and making it my pet.
Now I feel much more confident. How could I not? Imagine a Getsuga Tenshō, enhanced by two types of Haki: Ambition and Armament. Add the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, amplifying its destructive power, and Mana Burst...
Good!
Speaking of baits now. Hmm, Shrouds are expensive... Forget it for now. Let's stick with the good old reliable stamp.
Baits... [Sticky Fingers] Duh. And [Love Spot] to make myself more attractive and ensure that the easier girls fall for me more quickly.
[Zenryoku Zenkai]—this way, the Waifus I defeat in combat won't be able to stop thinking about me, craving a rematch. It's the perfect advantage for a respectable Shonen protagonist, and it's far too beneficial for me to pass up.
Then, I decided to pick the talent [Don't Stand So Close to Me]. Seems good. People who teach me and those I instruct are drawn to me, huh? Hell, just being around them and interacting will help.
This is great, considering Ichigo trains primarily with Rukia and Yoruichi at the beginning of the series. But not only that, I could also learn from Unohana and other women to maximize this talent's potential.
I have some credits left to save—should I keep them...? No. I immediately shook my head. I could do that later when I felt more confident in myself.
Oh, [Blessed Talent]. I decided to take it as a kind of future insurance since it might give me an unexpected edge, helping me become even stronger. Higher powers—be they gods, demons, elemental superiors, or other spirits—would take an interest in me more quickly than anyone else.
Furthermore, as if that weren't enough, the blessings or gifts granted to me would be more powerful and useful. The Daddy Soul King... Ugh, he might decide to lend a hand to his favorite hybrid.
There was only one drawback—curses or strikes aimed at my enemies would be more effective, scaling based on how much the specific higher power favors you compared to who or what you're invoking them against.
I also decided to take [Communication Talent] since I wanted my Talk no Jutsu to be as effective as possible, like a proper Shonen protagonist. That way, I could win over the bad Waifus to my side without too much trouble.
"Huff... That's everything!" I double-checked my build. Click. Then the prompt: "Yes, I'm sure!" And immediately after, another prompt: "Yes, I'm absolutely sure!" The lights went out, as if someone had flipped a switch, and everything plunged into total darkness.
[Welcome to The Company!]
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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 3 advanced chapters
Osmosian Sorcerer?: 2 advanced chapters
Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic) 2 advanced chapters
Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters
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Chapter - 14: Symbionte - Chapter - 15: White Tiger - I'm Peter
Chapter - 17: Onmyoji - Chapter - 18: The Power of Bao
Chapter - 1: Start as Quincy - Chapter - 2: My cute Tatsuki
Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown
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